Circuit-breaker.



N0 MODEL.

MMIWW- 4 q PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904. G. WRIGHT'& H. c. WHITE.

CIRCUIT BRBAKER.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T. 7, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A TTORNEY.

No. 766,311. PATENTBD AUG. 2, 1904.

G. WRIGHT G H. 0. WHITE.

GIRGUIT BREAKBR.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. r1, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WJTNESSES.-

A TTORNEY.

*MUNTTED STATES Patented August 2, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GILBERT WYRIGHT AND HAROLD C. IVHITE, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHU- SETTS, ASSIGNORS TO STANLEY ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEI/V JERSEY.

CIRCUIT-BREAKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,311, dated. August 2, 1904.

Application filed October 7, 1903.

To ftZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that we, GILBERT WRIGHT and HAROLD C. IVHITE, citizens of the United States, and residents of Pittslield, Massachu- 5 setts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit-Breakers, of which the following is aspecitication.

Our invention relates to breakers for electric circuits; and its object is to provide an automatic device of this character which will be quick and positive in its action, simple and economical in its construction, and equally applicable to either single or double throw switches.

Another object of our invention is to provide a tripping' device which will operate with a minimum of friction, and hence shall' be sensitive and instantaneous `in action even in switches of large size, which mustnecessarily be equipped with heavy springs in order to secure a quick and positive break.

Another object of our invention is to provide suoli an arrangement for the manual operating means that it shall not be possible to Ahold the switch closed against a continuous overload r short-circuit. Another object of our invention is to provide a setting device for the tripping mechanism which shall permit of very simple and delicate adjustment, but which shall at the same time give a clear indication throughout its range of the exact point at which the trip-\ ping mechanism is set.

Further objects of our invention will appear from the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a side view in elevation and in cross-section of a circuit-breaker constructed in accordance with our invention, 4o and Fig. 2 represents a front view in elevation of the same with the operating-handle raised. Fig. 3 shows a detail view of the lock between the handle and the switch mechanism. Fig. 4 shows a detail view of the indicating mechanism.

In the drawings, A represents a slab of marble or other insulating material on which Serial No. 176,030. (No model.)

is fastened the casting B by means of the bolts C is a part of the casting forming a sleeve or collar passing' through the marble and supporting the tube D. Sleeve C is split and is drawn together by screw 0, which clamps it tightly around tube D and which also lits into tube D, holding it firmly in position.

E is an inner tube horizontally movable within tube D. Tube E carries within it the two washers F F, between which is placed the spiral compression-spring G. Tashers F F/ are movable withintube E, but are held pressed out against the collars e e at the two ends of tube E by the spiral compressionspring G.

H is a rod which is supported at one end by the front end of tube D. It carries a shoulder against which presses the washer F. At the other end of rod H is another shoulder, formed by the nut It, which is pressed against by the washer F.

It will be evident from the above description that if tubeE is moved longitudinally in either direction the spiral spring G will be compressed. Thus if in Fig. 1 tube E is moved toward the right collar e will carry washer F along withit; but washer F will be held stationary by nut (t, and consequently the spiral spring will be compressed. On the other hand, if tube E were moved toward the left in Fig. l washer F would be held stationary by the shoulder on rod H, while washer F would be carried along by collar e and spring G would be compressed in the opposite direction.

Tube E has cut on its lower side gear-teeth adapted to engage the gear I. Tube D is cut away 0r notched out to permit the engagement of gear I with the teeth on the lower side of tube E. Gear I is loosely mounted on shaft J, on which is also loosely mounted the handle IQ Handle K carries the dogs or clutches LL, pivoted upon it, the toes of which engage notches in the hub of gear-wheel I. Dogs L L are held in engagement with said notches by means of the small compressionsprings Z Z, which abut upon handle K. Thus as handle K is moved either up or down tube E will be moved either to the right or left in a longitudinal direction and the spring G will be compressed, tending to return tube E to its central position, as shown in Fig. l.

Tube E has two notches cut on its upper side. When tube E is moved to its eXtreme position in either direction, one of these notches will be brought under the small roller m, which lrolls freely on the upper surface of tube E. Tube D is notched out to allow-roller m to ride on the upper surface of tube E. Roller m will then drop into the notch which has been brought opposite it and will lock tube E fast in position, thus acting as a latch for spring G when spring G is strained. Gear I has now been'rotated nine-ty degrees, and at the same time that roller m drops into the notch in tube E one of the heels of each of dogs L L, carried by handle K, strikes one of the studs n n, rotating dogs L L on their pivots against the pressure of springs Z Z and releasing the toe of dogs L L from the notches in the hub of gear I, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, for instance, if handle K is raised to the position shown in FigQZ` gear I will be rotated ninety degrees from the position shown in Fig. l, tube E will be moved to the right in Fig. l, carrying washer F with it and compressing spring G until the left-hand notch in tube E comes under roller m, which drops into the notch, and the upper heels of dogs L L will strike the upper studs n. n, (shown in dotted lines in the drawings,) lifting the toe of dogs L L out of the notches in the hub of gear I. If now roller m be lifted out of the notch in tube E by means of the tripping mechanism which is to be explained later, tube E will be quickly and positively returned to the mid-position, as shown in Fig. 1, by the expansion of spring G, gear I will be returned to its original position by the movement of tube E, and dogs L L may again rengage the notches in the hub of gear I. If now handle K is moved downward, gear I will be r0- tated and tube E will be moved longitudinally to the left, carrying with it Washer Fand compressing spring' G in the opposite direction against washer F, which is now held stationary by the shoulder on rod H. When tube E has reached its extreme position, the right-hand notch on its upper surface will be engaged by roller m. The lower heel of dogs L L will at the same time strike the lower studs n n and will be pressed out of engagement with the notches in hub of gear I. When roller m is raised by the tripping mechanism, tube E and gear I will again be restored to their central positions, as shown in Fig. l.

The mechanism above described is therefore well adapted fora double-throw switch, since if the two extreme positions of tube E correspond to the two closed positions of the switch then by raising' roller m the switch will be instantaneously opened by spring G, whether the switch is closed in one direction or the other. It will be understood that the movable switch member, which is not shown and which may be of any well-known type, is connected to and operated by tube E.

Studs n n, coacting with dogs L L, serve a double purpose. First, by lifting dogs L L out of engagement with the hub of gear I when the switch is in either of its closed positions they prevent the switch being held closed by the operator in case of an overload or a short-circuit. When the switch is closed, the handle K is disengaged from the operating mechanism, and consequently if the tripping mechanism operates the switch will be instantaneously opened. Secondly, the studs serve to limit effectively the movement of the handle, and thus prevent the operator from jamming his lingers through pushing the handle too far when it is released from the actuating mechanism.

The tripping device consists of two solenoids S S and their cores s s, which carry rods engaging the two ends of the cross-piece O. Two solenoids are shown illustrating a tripping device for two or three phase switches. In such switches it is customary to employ two solenoids, each connected in one phase. For switches intended for single phase or for direct current one solenoid would be omitted. Cross-piece O carries guide M, in which the roller m is free to rotate. Cross-piece O is supported by the curved levers P, which are pivoted on the bosses Q on the casting B. Thus roller m is held in position, but is free to roll along the top of tube E and to drop into the notches on the top of tube E when either of said notches is brought beneath it. When solenoids S draw up their cores s, crosspiece O is raised, rotating levers P on their pivots, and guide M lifts roller m, thereby disengaging it from the notches on tube E. By the use of the roller m the friction is reduced to a minimum, and even with the use of a very heavy spring G the tripping action will be sensitive and instantaneous.

The adjusting mechanism is as follows: Cores s of solenoids S are normally supported at the ends of cross-piece T. U is an adjusting-screw having a milled head and engaging cross-piece T. By turning screw U crosspiece T is raised or lowered, raising or lowering cores s, and thus the load at which the circuit-breaker will act is adjusted. Cross-piece T carries the rod V, on which is cut the quiclipitch thread, as shown in detail in Fig. 4. W is a nut of large diameter engaging the quickpitch thread on rod V. The scale for indicating the load for which the circuit-breaker is set may be placed on the periphery of nut W, and by means of the index X the setting IIO IIS

IZO

of the circuit-breaker at any time may be known. The guides for rod V, upon the upper of which index X is mounted, serve to prevent all vertical movement of nut W. It is evident that by the use of the quick-pitch thread and the nut of -large diameter a very slight upward or downward movement oi' cross-piece T will produce a considerable movement of the scale on the periphery of nut W. Thus while screw U may be given a lfine pitch in order to. secure a delicate adjustment the divisions of the scale on nut l/V may be large and clear.

Cross-piece T carries at each end the small set-screws t t, whereby an extra adjustment of the solenoid-cores may be obtained. The adjustment of cross-piece O for different posi' tions of solenoids S S is obtained by means of the set-nuts s' s on the top of the rod carried by cores s s.

We have described our invention as applied to a double-throw switch. It is obvious, however, that it is equally applicable to a singlethrow switch, in which case it is necessary to make provision for the compression of spring G in one direction only.

Ve do not desire to limit ourselves to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein shown, since changes therein which do not depart from the spirit of our invention and which are within the scope of the appended claims will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patentl. In a circuit-breaker, a hollow'tube, a spiral spring within said tube, means adapted to compress said spring when said tube is moved in either direction, a catch adapted to restrain said tube, and means for disengaging said catch.

2. In a circuit-breaker, a hollow tube, means for longitudinally reciprocating said tube in either direction, a spiral spring within said tube adapted to be compressed when said tube is moved in either direction, a catch adapted to restrain said tube i'n either of its extreme positions and electroresponsive means for disengaging said catch.

3. In a circuit-breaker, a spiral spring, a hollow tube surrounding said spring and adapted by its movement to compress said spring in either direction, operating means for reciprocating said tube, means for disengaging said operating' means when said tube is in either extreme position, a catch adapted to restrain said tube in either extreme position, and electroresponsive means for disengaging said catch.

4C. In a circuit-breaker, a spiral spring, a hollow tube surrounding said spring and adapted by its movement to compress said spring, said tube having gear-teeth cut on one side, a gear engaging said gear-teeth, a handle, a dog carried by said handle and engaging said gear, means for disengaging said dog, and means Jfor restraining said tube against the pressure'oi' said spring.

5. In a circuit-breaker, a spiral spring, two

washers against which the ends of said spring abut, a tube surrounding said spring and adapted to engage said washers so as to compress said spring when said tube is moved in either direction, means for reciprocating said tube, means for restraining said tube when displaced, and means for releasing said tube to permit its free movement under the influence of said spring. 6. In a circuit-breaker, a spiral spring, a hollow tube surrounding said spring and adapted by vits movement to compress said spring, said tube having gear-teeth cut on one side, a' gear engaging said gear-teeth, a handle, a pivoted'dog carried by said handle and engaging said gear, a stop arranged to disengage said dog when said tube is in its eXtreme position, a catch for restraining said tube in said position, and electroresponsive means for disengaging said catch.

7 In a circuit-breaker, a spiral spring, a tube surrounding said spring and-adapted by its movement to compress said spring, means for reciprocating said tube, a roller adapted to roll on the top of said tube when said tube is reciprocated, notches on said tube adaptedto be engagedby said roller, and electroresponsive means for disengaging said roller.

8. In a circuit-breaker, a spring-actuated reciprocating member, a roller adapted to roll on said member, notches on said member adapted to be engaged by said roller, and electroresponsive means for disengaging said roller.

9. In a circuit-breaker, a spring-actuated member tending to return to a given position, means formoving said member in either direction, a roller adapted to roll on the surfacev of said member when said member is moved, notches on said surface adapted to be engaged by said roller in certain positions of said member, and electroresponsive means for disengaging said roller.

10. In a circuit-breaker, a spring-actuated reciprocating member having notches on its surface, a pivoted lever, a roller carried by said lever and adapted to roll on the surface of said member and to engage said notches, and electroresponsive means adapted to reciprocate said lever on its pivot.

11. In a circuit-breaker, a solenoid-core, a member supporting said core, an adjustingscrew for said member, a quick-pitchv screwthread carried by said member, a nut adapted to be rotated by said screw-thread, and indicating means carried by said nut.

12. In a circuit-breaker, a solenoid-core, a slow-pitch adjusting-screw therefor, a quickpitchscrew moved by said slow-pitch screw,

IOO

IIO

and indicating means adapted to be rotated by said quick-pitch screw.

13. In a circuit-breaker, a solenoid-core, a slow-pitch adjusting-screw therefor, a member having a quick-pitch screw-thread and adapted to be longitudinally reciprocated by said slow-pitch screw, and indicating means adapted to be operated by said screw.

' 14. In a circuit-breaker, a solenoid-core, a slow-pitch adjusting-screw therefor, a quickpitch screw moved by said slow-pitch screw, and a nut adapted to be rotated by said quickpitch screw, said nut carrying means for indicating the position of said core.

l5. A double-throw mechanism for circuitbreakers, comprising a rocking lever, a springactuated switch-controlling device adapted to be put under strain by the lever in either direction of movement, a latch for the spring When strained, a clutch normally locking the GILBERT WRIGHT. HAROLD o. WHITE.

Witnesses:v

L. A. HAWKINS, R. E. HAYNES. 

